Prince Fielder and the Tigers agree to a nine-year, $214 million contract

On January 26, 2012 — Prince Fielder and the Tigers agree to a nine-year, $214 million contract, a move necessitated with the AL Central champion’s loss of Victor Martinez, who could miss the entire season after tearing his left ACL while conditioning in the off-season. As a child, Prince hit fence-clearing drives when taking batting practice with his dad, Cecil Fielder, who hit 51 home runs playing with Detroit in 1990.

Fielder will have 2 productive years with the Tigers and then be traded to the Texas Rangers where his career will end after 3 more seasons.